does the uncertain tone of the picture, methodically directed by Burt Kennedy, which only toward the end asserts itself, clearly and lamely, as a good-natured spoof." Variety wrote that the film "provides what in today's market is acceptable family fare, laughs overshadowing the serious moments." Roger Ebert gave the film 2.5 stars out of 4, calling it "a fairly good Western but not good enough." Gene Siskel of the Chicago Tribune also gave it 2.5 stars out of 4, calling it "a pleasant enough oater that is low on violence and drama. It won't offend a soul, and is merely made for that catch-all evaluation, 'decent entertainment.'" Charles Champlin of the Los Angeles Times called the film "slow, gross, heavy-handed, neither funny nor sweetly sad." Gary Arnold of The Washington Post wrote, "Burt Kennedy's direction of this hokum is lively and likeable, but I'd prefer an older sort of hokum: Western melodrama with comic interludes or undercurrents, like 'Ride the High Country' and 'True Grit' at its infrequent best and William Wyler's 'The Westerner,' rather than deliberate, gratuitous spoofing." See also List of American films of 1969 References External links 1969 films Films directed by Burt Kennedy 1969 Western (genre) films American Western (genre) comedy films Films scored by William Lava Warner Bros. films Films shot in New Mexico Films shot in Los Angeles County, California 1960s English-language films 1960s American films